First UMC Staff Retreat - Being a Relay Team for Christ & the Church

[Picture of our staff team: Pastor Cheryl is holding the relay race baton because we discoverd that she is our fastest runner! From left to right: Pastor Robert, John Coen, Deb Silvia, Sandra Yerian, Pastor Cheryl, Pam George, Peg Parker, Sandy Roberts, & Clarence McCoy.]

Our staff held a planning retreat today at our Crossroads facility. Our focus was on being a great relay team for Christ and the church. A good relay team knows the importance of practice, holding on to the baton, placing your runners in the best position, improving track speed, and handing off the baton smoothly within the exchange zone.

Carrying the relay team theme to church leadership, we thought about how we also need to be disciplined and strategic in our church's ministries. We said how our relay team consists of the staff and the congregation and how the baton is the good news of Jesus Christ that needs to be shared with the people in our church and community.

We spent the first part of our morning discussing the book by church consultant, Bill Easum, Staffing for Effective Churches. Rev. Jim Waugh from our Capitol Area South District office spent the 2nd half of the morning showing us demographic information that can help our church be more effective in reaching out to our community.

After a wonderful lunch provided to us by our Staff/Parish Relations Committee, we brainstormed ways for our church to improve in helping people to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. During the day, our staff had fun participating in two relay races. We also shared in worship together.

We left our retreat with a renewed commitment to help our church run the race that God has given us.

Dave's Deep Thoughts - Strange Foods, One Gospel

 

I'm all for thinking green,

but just how green do I really need to get???

 

This is such a great time of year,

Easter, Earth Day, May Day festivals.....

so many celebrations of life.

 

It's easy to celebrate when there is so much

coming to life all around us.....

trees budding, grass growing,

and flowers blooming.

 

Now I am all for being one with the earth.

I turn off lights in rooms not being used.

I hang my laundry out to dry in the sun.

No piece of plastic, cardboard, or newspaper escapes my recycling bin.

 

I am as green as they come...

or so I thought so.

 

I have some friends equally commited to using the earth's resources wisely.

Recently they invited me for dinner.

 

These friends have traveled around the world

and have tried recipes of delicacies from many cultures.

 

They have told me about Bird's Nest Soup made in China.

Oh don't worry, it's not made out of leaves and twigs.

No, it's made from the saliva of birds,

creating a rubbery texture that is made even more

desirable because the nesting season in China lasts for only 35 days annually.

A bowl of this soup can cost anywhere between $30 to $100 depending upon availability.

I wouldn't suggest "wasting this" by feeding it to your children.

 

They have told me about Kopi Luwak.

It is the rarest. most expensive gourmet coffee in the world.

Sounds tempting, right?

That is until you realize it is made

from the excrement of a cat-like creature

in Indonesia called the Luwak.

 

Evidently, the Luwak eats only the ripest coffee cherries,

but their stomachs can't digest the beans found inside, so they come out whole.

The stomach acids and enzymes that perform the fermentation of the beans,

gives the coffee it's "special" aroma.

I guess, if you have "special" friends over, you might want to consider this after dinner.

 

Then there is always the Cambodian delicacy of fried tarantulas.

Oh yes, they are fried whole.....legs, fangs and all.

Evidently, they have become so famous

that tourists come by the busloads come to taste test.

Supposedly, they taste a bit like fried crickets or scrawny chicken,

crispy on the outside, and gooey on the inside.

And you thought KFC boneless chicken was innovative........

 

Now, my friends wouldn't try to slip one of these delicacies past me

when they invite me over for dinner.

Hearing about them as we eat is enough.

 

Everything looked great as we sat down to table,

chicken, cheesey potatoes, vegetables....

that was, until they passed what I thought was the table centerpiece.

 

It was at that moment, that I was introduced to dandelion salad.

Under normal conditions, I would have thought they were kidding

but these are people who have fried tarantulas on their dietary resumes.

 

To their credit, the yellow flowers were only there as garnish

and were removed before serving.

But the rest of that bowl was filled filled with a leafy greenery

that is most often found on the underside of my lawn mower.

 

Now I am all for adventure,

but when it comes to food,

I tend to be a bit more conservative.

 

Out of politeness, I took a bit of the dandelion salad

figuring if I could normally kill these varmits with Scotts lawn formula #2,

I could probably kill the taste with enough Balsamic Vinegarette.

 

I must admit, it wasn't bad.

Perhaps I would have loved it

if I could have gotten the mental image of raking my salad out of my mind.

 

Cultures have always fascinated me.

As I experience more and more of the cultures from around the world,

I wonder about how the truth of Christ's empty tomb

can possibly speak to so many diverse peoples.

 

And that's when I think of the apostle Paul.

God's life purpose for Paul was to use him to send the gospel

well beyond the people of Israel.

 

And Paul's task was far more challenging than

my attempts at eating dandelion salad.

 

He needed to communicate the amazing news

of the love of the one and only God.

to peoples who believed in many gods.

The people in Athens alone

had so many idols erected to gods

that they could fill up the yellow pages under the listing, Deity.

 

So what did Paul do when in Athens.......

He started with what they knew as familiar,

and then He found a way to speak to what they didn't know,

He looked upon the idol erected to "an unknown god"

and Paul spoke to them of this God that they did not know......

 

a God who willingly revealed His nature

by coming in the form of man rather than being carved out of gold or silver,

 

a God who wanted a sacrifice of the spirit

before grain and animal sacrifices,

 

a God who would choose to die for them

rather then live without them,

 

a God that left no need for another "unknown god."

 

Now these Athenians were highly educated men,

philosophers by trade.

Some wanted to hear more,

some wanted to debate Paul,

and some rejected him immediately upon hearing

of "a resurrection from the dead."

But a few were enlightened by the Spirit to receive Christ.

 

And then it was time for Paul to move on.

 

We don't have to go very far to find people with

world views and philosophies that darken their hearts to Christ.

All God asks of us is to start by listening to what they know,

and then lovingly share what we know to be the Truth.

 

Perhaps the thought of that is as distasteful to you

as eating Dandelion Salad when you would rather have Caesar salad.

 

But chances are, you will not die from eating dandelions

or by sharing the gospel that is within your heart.

All God asks, is that you listen to His Spirit guiding you.

 

As for the birds nest soup,

that's up to you.

 

At the end of a lovely dinner,

we were sitting around the table enjoying conversation,

when the host asked, "Would anyone like coffee?"

One thought of the Luwak cat coffee beans,

and I simply nodded my head no.

 

Maybe sharing the gospel isn't so tough after all.

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel,

for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes

to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Sunday Lectionary Bible Commentary for May 5

 

May 5 Sermon – “Facing the Future”

Revelation 21:10, 22-27; 22:1-5

v. 22 – There is no Temple because God is in the city! This is the future good news of our faith! See Habakkuk 2:14

v. 23 – There is no need of the sun or moon in the new heavens and earth because God is present and will provide all of the light that is needed. This passage has the fulfillment of the creation story (Genesis) in mind.

This scripture reminds us of Psalm 72:19 when the Psalmist looks forward to the time when God’s glory will fill the whole earth.

vv. 1-5 – This new city is filled with life – Notice that there is a river of the water of life flowing through it. The river is flowing from the city to the world around it. God is the source of life and wholeness. 

This passage also has Ezekiel 43 in mind where the renewed Temple is a new kind of Eden. In Genesis, there are four rivers flowing from the garden but Ezekiel claims there will only be one. This is all a rebirth of God’s creation.

v. 2 – The tree of life. This was the tree that was forbidden from Adam and Eve. This new tree of life leads to the healing of the nations.

John’s vision isn’t just meant to be our hope for the future, but we are to live out this hope in our present time.

John 14:23-29

Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for his departure.

v. 22 – A disciples asks Jesus how he will reveal himself to them and not to the world (the people who have rejected him.) Jesus answers that he is against wickedness but at the same time he loves the world. Is this a little of “hate the sin but love the sinner?”

Because of this, the world can be a very dark and challenging place for those who have placed their trust in Christ.

vv. 25-27 – Jesus offers the disciples the Holy Spirit so that they can  have peace as they face the unbelief of the world.

v. 30 – Who is the “ruler of this world?” On one level, it is the Roman King, Caesar who is representative of the Romans who will put Jesus to death. On another level, it’s a general evil at work in the world. When Jesus dies on the Christ, he inflicted a fatal blow to the evil of the world but the disciples will still  need to offer the gospel to a world that will reject them. This is why they need the Spirit.

TV Season Finales & Our Faith

This is one of my favorite times of year for TV. A lot of shows have their final episodes of the season this week. This year, I have not missed too many episodes of American Idol, The Following (I know this is a pretty sick show), The Office, & Parks & Rec. Soon, we'll be forced to watch reruns which I usually don't like to do unless it was a really, really, really good episode.

Coincidentally, a lot of our activities wind down around this time of year. Schools are concluding their academic year, graduations are just around the corner, and we have finally made it to the NBA playoffs!

Season ending TV shows remind me of our faith. Even the church's liturgical year has a feel of transition as we only have a few weeks left in the Easter Season. Soon, the church will begin its longest season of the year called Ordinary Time which will last from June through November. The liturgical color on the altar typically stays green during this entire time signifying steady growth.

A lot of the scripture readings during Ordinary Time feel a little bit like TV reruns because they don't feel all that flashy and new. Even so, these familiar biblical stories still speak a fresh word to us because our lives never stay the same. To varying degrees, our experiences and circumstances have changed over time which is why it's important to read familiar scripture readings with a new openness. 

One of the reasons that it feels like the bible frequently repeats itself is because life doesn't stay the same.  We always are in need of a fresh Word from the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

Yes, the exciting episodes of Christmas and Easter are feeling more and more like distant memories, but our faith continues on. God still speaks challenging and reassuring words to us even during the long rerun season.

I have a friend who still watches past episodes of the long running TV series, MASH. One day, I asked him if he ever gets tired of seeing the same episode seven or eight times. His response? Every episode of MASH has a truth that relates to my life in some way. I never get tired of watching MASH reruns.

As we near the end of the Easter Season and prepare for Ordinary Time, may we be able to say, Every scripture in the Bible has a truth that relates to my life in some way. I never get tired of reading the Bible.

May it be so.

Sermon (May 12) - "Real Power"

     This morning, I want us to think about what real power is. Since today, is Mothers’ Day, I think of the power of a mother’s love. This will be the first year that I won’t be able to call my mother to tell her “Happy Mothers’ Day.” These past few days, I have been thinking a lot about the power of a mother’s love.

     Last June, my brother, two sisters were able to be by our mom’s bedside before she passed away. And during those four very difficult days together, we were able to tell mom how much we loved her and we thanked her for being a wonderful mom to us.

     We told stories about how you couldn’t get away with anything when mom was around, maybe with dad, but never with mom. We remembered how hard she worked on the farm and the many years that she worked third shift at a factory to help us go to college. Our mom had always been a powerful presence of love in our lives.

     The day before she died, we gathered around her. We thought that maybe she reached a point where she didn’t know who we were because of her very weakened condition.

     As the four of us were by our mom, my brother, pointing to one of my two sisters asked her, “Mom, do you know who this is?” My mom said, “Teresa.” Then my brother asked her, “Do you know who this is?” My mom said, “Dena.” Then he pointed at me and said, “Do you know who this is? And my mom said, “Robert.”

     We were all surprised that mom still knew who we were. And then my brother who is the musician of the family said, “And mom, do you know who I am?”

     For the next few seconds, my mom’s eyes gazed intently at my brother and then with a mischievous smile she said, “Bing Crosby.”

     Even in her very weakened condition, our mom knew how to make us laugh. Now, that’s real power!

     During worship one Sunday morning, you’re surprised when someone stands up in the middle of the service to read an important letter to the entire congregation.  You wonder what important message this might be so you lean forward in your seat to not miss a single word.

     And this is what you hear:  “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason, I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.  I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.  God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.”

     As you hear these words, you can’t help but to look around to see the reactions of the people.  Surely, they will be overjoyed and stunned to hear such overwhelming news of hope and promise. 

     But when you look across the room, what you see is a man dozing off as his bulletin falls to the floor.  You look the other way only to find someone making out their grocery list.  You look to the front and are surprised when you see the pastor fidgeting with his watch.

     No one seems to be listening, or if they are, they’re certainly not hearing this letter as a word of good news meant especially for them.

     When this letter was first read to the various churches located in the greater Ephesus area around the middle of the first century, it must have been startling for these congregations to hear these words.  Here, they were living in or near a city which at that time, was a very powerful city, a city which was home to powerful Roman leaders, and a pagan religion which used powerful displays of magic to impress it’s followers.

     This was the kind of city that would give a new religious movement an inferiority complex.  What power do they have?  Certainly not anything that can rival the glamour and prestige of a progressive major city that is adopting Roman culture and customs at a fast and furious pace.  In writing his letter for the churches located in or near the city of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul, is reminding these congregations that what they have been given in Jesus Christ puts them head and shoulders above anything their surrounding culture can ever hope to offer.

     Paul doesn’t want them to ever forget what they have received through Jesus Christ.  It’s an impressive list:  Wisdom, hope, a glorious inheritance, and power.

     Power.  Paul uses this word four times in this short passage of scripture.  Obviously, he wants the church to not only know about this power, but to live out this power through their ministry.

     One of the reasons that we may find the pastor of a church fidgeting with his watch, or a man dozing off, or someone putting together a grocery list during the reading of a scripture like this, is because the church has at times, misused its power.

     One only needs to mention the phrase, “Spanish Inquisition,” and all kinds of negative thoughts about the church come to mind.

     Or think of more recent times.  What about people who bomb abortion clinics in the name of Jesus Christ or who use their religion as a way of bullying people into accepting their point of view?

     You have probably heard of a small church located in Topeka, Kansas that sends its church members to protest at military funerals to show that the deaths of our soldiers are a sign of God’s judgment against America.  Their website is filled with hate language all in the name of the Christian faith.

     While many would say and rightly so that this church really isn’t a true Christian church because of its very unChristlike beliefs and behavior, there are others who see this church as an example of the bigotry and judgementalism of the Christian faith in general.  Unfortunately, we can point to other negative examples that include greedy televangelists and abusive church leaders.

     Certainly, the church has a spotty history of how it has used power.  But let’s also not forget of all the good the church has done whenever it has lived out the power of Christ in ways that bring transformation and God’s peace and justice.

     Think of many of our institutions that we often take for granted today, like hospitals, clinics, and schools, many of which were started by churches who knew that it was their responsibility to make a difference in society.  I think of a little country church which was responsible for getting the first public school started in the County.

     Think of people like William Wilberforce in Britain and John Woolman here in America who joined together in ending the slave trade just two centuries ago.

     Think of Dr. Martin Luther King during the 1960s, whose passion for justice cost him his life.

     Think of Desmond Tutu, the Anglican leader, who in more recent memory, helped end Apartheid, the racist government of South Africa.  Most people predicted such a change would cause lots of bloodshed, but thanks to this man and his faith in Christ, it was mostly a peaceful transition.

     Think of Oscar Romero.  Oscar Romero was a Christian who was shot by an assassin because he was speaking out on behalf of the poor in El Salvador.

     And thankfully, there are many other shining examples from our history of how the church has made an incredible difference in the world by living out the power of the risen Christ in ways that bring about God’s loving kingdom to earth.

    Several years ago, I had lunch with a member of a rapidly growing church.  He told me the fascinating story of his church.  About five years before our conversation, his church was going to close its doors because it had dwindled down to just a few members.

     Located in a strategic and growing area, over the past several years, this church had lost its vision and passion in reaching the people of its community.  Just when they were about to close the church, a denominational official decided to give this church one more shot. 

     Over the next five years, this church grew to over 500 people.  So I asked this church member over lunch, “What’s the main reason why your church has turned things around in a short amount of time?”

     His eyes lit up and without even thinking about it, he said, “It’s because we pour ourselves out and share the love of Jesus in our community.”  And for the next sixty minutes he proceeded to tell me several ways that their church is pouring themselves out.  One of the ways they are pouring themselves out is by partnering with the local school district to help children and families in need.

     After our lunch and on my way back to the church, I couldn’t get that phrase out of my mind.  “Poured out.”  I thought to myself, “That’s a great image for what the church is meant to be.”  We are to be poured out for the sake of the world.

     Out of curiosity, I did a google search to find this church’s website.  I clicked on their mission statement and here’s what it says:  “We are committed to building a church that is real, transformed, connected, and poured out.”

     No wonder he used that phrase over and over again.

     Today is Ascension Sunday, the Sunday in which the church remembers when Jesus ascended to be seated at the right hand of God forty days following his resurrection.  Ascension Sunday reminds us that when Jesus ascended, he literally ascended to his throne as King of kings and Lord of lords.

     The Apostle Paul refers to Jesus’ ascension in our Ephesians scripture passage this morning when he writes that God’s power was at work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.

     But remember the events which preceded this King’s ascension.  This King gave it all.  This King gave his life.  This King was poured out for the sake of the world.

     So when we hear scriptures like this one from Ephesians which talk about power, we’re not just talking about any power.

    On this day, we are invited to remember what real power is. 

     Think about Jesus, the Son of God, being placed in a manger.  That’s power. 

     Think about Jesus telling the disciples to love their enemies and to do good to them.  That’s power.

     Think about Jesus hanging on a cross to take upon himself the sin and pain of the world.  That’s power.

     Think about the resurrected and ascended Jesus, now seated at the right hand of God, victorious over sin and death.  That’s power.

     Think about some folks going to their cars following a worship service on Ascension Sunday.  They aren’t the same people who first entered those church doors.  They can’t wait to go into the community to be the “poured out” church of King Jesus; through humble service, unconditional love, bold witnessing, and risk taking mission.

     Now, that’s real power!

Sunday Worship Preview - May 12

Sunday, May 12 - (7:30, 9:00, & 10:30 Services) & Wednesday, May 15 (6:30 pm Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "Real Power"

Features - Ascension Sunday & Mothers' Day

Scripture - Ephesians 1:15-23 & Luke 24:44-53

Theme - In our Ephesians reading, the Apostle Paul reminds us to receive the power of Christ in our ministry as a church. How can we make sure that we use this power in ways that are pleasing to God? On this Ascension Sunday, we are invited to think about what the Apostle Paul means by "power."

Lectionary Bible Commentary for April 28

 

Sermon (April 28) – “One Small Step”

Acts 11:1-18

Context – This relates to the story of Peter having a vision to go to a gentile city (Caesarea) to offer the good news of Christ to a gentile, Cornelius. Jews were careful to not enter a gentile city because of purity laws. The people in the home of Cornelius received the good news of Christ and were baptized by Peter.

Back in Judea where the Jewish believers were assembled, they questioned Peter for his association with the gentiles. After Peter explains what God has done, they realize that this is the work of the Holy Spirit that began at Pentecost (chapter 2) where people beyond the Jewish faith will receive the good news of Jesus Christ and be part of God’s covenant community.

This scripture raises all kinds of challenges for us! In what ways can we reach out beyond the barriers that separate the church from the community and world? If the Holy Spirit is reaching out to the whole world, why do we sometimes want to limit the work of the Spirit?

John 13:31-35

Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure. This is where the Last Discourse of Jesus begins and will last through the end of chapter 16!

The Last Discourse is considered by many to be the most intimate portion of scripture because of the personal words Jesus shares with his disciples.

Imagine the feelings of the disciples as they were hearing that Jesus would be leaving them and they still had so many questions about their new faith in Christ. We often feel that we don’t have enough information, knowledge about Jesus, experience, and yet, Jesus still believes that we are ready to follow him.

Later in the discourse, Jesus will explain that the Holy Spirit will continue to be with the disciples in Jesus’ absence.  We are never alone!

Jesus’ new commandment of love reminds us of Leviticus 19:18. The addition here is that Jesus wants us to follow his example. This is why he has washed the disciples’ feet.

If we are always waiting to have all the information or all the experience, we will never begin to step out on our own to live out our faith. Jesus teaches us to fly out of our nest!